Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-03-02

ne oyster punGys LIllfe Dale, capt.
Keller, which left Baltimore on the 10th
ult, with crew OF six men, for the oyster
ground in the neighborhood of Thomas
Point, and South River, has perhaps. been
one of the most unfortunate dredging yes
sells on the bay. Thursday night last dur
ing heavy blow, while the vessel was at
the mouth of South River, George Miller,
one of tho crew was lost overheard and
and drowned while arranging the lib, be-
fore assistance could reach him. An effort
was made next day TO recover his body,
but without success. The Captain re-
ported the drowning to the Custom House
officer of this city next day, and the
vessel returned to the oyster grounds again
in the neighborhood of South River,
where she continued TO load with oysters.
On Saturday she anchored Of Marshy
Point, South River, during the storm, and
laid there all Sunday. On Sunday morn
ing about o'clock, four of the crew
George Roberts, mate, James Donneliy,
and two Poles, named Worship and Wei
giant, took the yawl boat and went ashore
for stroll, and remained in the neghbor-
hood until about o'clock Sunday night,
when they proceeded to their yawl boat
TO go aboard of their vessel lying about a
quarter Of mile from shore. When they
reached the shore, they found their yawl-
boat high and dry. They built fire on
the shore where they sat around keeping
themselves warm the best they could
waiting for the tide to raise. Finally they
concluded to make an effort to reach the
vessel. and took off their shoes and stock
ings in order to keep them dry while they
pushed the heavy yawl-boat into deep
water, which they succeeded in doing,
and proceeded to pull In the darkness of
of the night, for their vessel. which they
could only discern by the dim light in the
rigging They had not proceeded far
from the shore, when they found it would
be impossible to make the vessel against
the heavy sea and wind that was blowing
at the time, so they headed their yawl-
boat for shore. taking as their guide the
light OF the fire they had left on the shore
They found, however, that the wind had
carried them considerably out of the course
and in their effort to reach shore they
were carried in the pound nets of Lowman
and Quade's, where their boat soon be-
came swamped and all four of the men
were thrown into the river. They chung
to thepound net stakes and cried for help,
until they become exhausted and were
washed off by the heavy sea- The
two Poles fell inside the pound nets,
where their bodies were recovered yester-
day. Roberts, the mate, is supposed TO
have fell on the outside of the pound nets,
and his body was carried out James
Donnelly, the only one that was saved was
interviewed this morning by a CAPITAL
reporter on board the vessel, now lying in
our dock, with the dead bodies of the two
Poles on board. Mr., Donnelly is bright,
intelligent man, and halls from Newark,
n. j., but shipped on the dale" from
Baltimore, on the 10Th, ult., and says
this Is his first trip, on q drcdge boat
When they found there was no hope of
rescue, he and the mate attempted TO swim
ashore They encouraged each other by
their conservation as long as they could
The Poles were still clinging to the stakes,
crying in most pitiful manner Donnel-
~ says the mate asked him where he was,
and he answered "about three stakes
ahead. He also asked him what must
we DOR and Donnclly replied: I'VE
might as well drown in attempting to
reach shore as to perish clinging to these
stakes-so here goes" and he struck out
for shore. He says he swan after letting
so the stake, about hundred yards, and
become SO exhausted that he gave'up. and
found that he was in about four foot of
water, and attempted to wade ashore but
his legs from his feet up to his knees were
so benumbed that he could scarcely stand
up, and had to crawl on his hands and
knees to the shore, and succeeded in
reaching the fire, by the assistance of
some parties on shore, where he managed
to keep from freezing to death. Henever
saw or heard anything more from the
mate after they parted. Capt Keller
reached here last night with his vessel
and two Of the dead bodies on board, and
the remnant of his crew. An inquest was
held over the dead bodies on the vessel
this morning by Justice ID. C. Thompson,
and verdict OF accidental drowning rem
dered. The bodies of the unfortunate
men were given in charge of Undertaken
Caulk, and buried in Brewers Cemetery
at the expense of the county.